The game of Craps is one of today’s most popular casino games. In any live casino it’s easy to find the Craps table, surrounded by crowds of excited gamblers. The origins of the game are not known for sure. However, it is a fact that game of Craps and its ancestors have been played around the world for centuries.
In the 12th century AD a game called Hazard was quite popular. The game is thought to have originated with a group of crusaders, led by Sir William Tyre, who were on their way to place a siege on a castle called Hazarth. One school of thought believes that the name Hazard originated from the name of the castle, Hazarth. However, another school of thought believes that the name of the game originated from “Al Zar”, the name of an Arabic dice game. For this reason, it is not known for sure whether the game is of English or Arabic origin.
Despite the uncertainty about the original origin of the game, it is known for certain that the game of Hazard became extremely popular in England during the 17th century. It was played in taverns all over the country, as well as in the casinos for nobility and aristocrats. With the game being so popular in England it is no surprise that it spread across the English Channel to France. However, the French changed the name of the game to “Craps”. Craps is a slight alteration to the word “Crabs”, which was used to describe one of the losing rolls in the game of Hazard.
It is thought that a combination of both French and British settlers brought the game of Craps to North America in the 18th century and the game quickly spread. When the game of Craps arrived in Philadelphia it was simplified and modernized by John H. Winn. Winn is known as the father of modern Craps and he created the modern day betting table, including the addition of Pass and Don’t Pass bets. Today’s Craps games are played by Winn’s rules.
When slot machines were introduced to the gambling scene the popularity of Craps saw a decline. Part of the reason was that Craps can be intimidating, with the table full of betting options and crowds gathered around. Players opted for the more simple games like slots. However, with the advent of online casino gaming more and more players are started to get into Craps. The game has found its place as one of the most exciting and popular casino games, online and off.